Hopefully the ghost of Wilkins won’t be on the court in Charlotte

Here’s what I have gathered on Georgia: Fans refer to their team as The Dawgs. They run the triangle offense. They are (reportedly) a poor passing team. They are like West Virginia’s hands of stone. Their strength is on the low post. It gets real ugly when they start loftin’ from beyond the arc. But same as with WV, they are tough, and clog up the middle — it’s hockey goons and thug ballers. Romar compared them to USC. Penetrating the paint could be an odyssey for Lion Heart and Overton. MBA must sack up. In 1983 Georgia made the Final Four and Dominique Wilkins went pro. Hopefully the ghost of Wilkins won’t be on the court in Charlotte.

I am glad 'Nique won't play on Friday.

Romar says N’Diaye will play more minutes on Friday. There is a rumor that N’Diaye will start instead of Ross. Overton will be back in the rotation. This news troubles me. By starting Ross, Romar gave the player swagger, and the team identity. The team clicked without Overton. Romar found his lineup. Ross is the Romar Cyborg. He is long, broad and skilled. He is more than a shooter and he’s only a freshman. If Wilcox and Holiday had a baby, it would be Ross.

The rhythm the Huskies found in the Pac-10 tourney harkened back to Nellie Ball. Nellie Ball is the up-tempo style of play Don Nelson made famous. The point forward is Nellie’s brainchild. The concept consists of long lean players ranging from 6-6 to 6-11. They run the floor, handle the ball like guards, and shoot from the perimeter. Some have said Nellie’s perfect game would be a 48-minute fast break. Sound familiar? The Huskies turn the game into a track meet, shoot threes at a heavy clip, but have problems with teams that meet their athleticism (same riddle Nellie’s teams couldn’t answer).

The pieces found each other in the conference tournament championship game. They played hard, fast and loose. Although MBA missed most of his hook shots, he made Derrick Williams take note. Gant played inspired. Wilcox and Ross were clutch in the final moments of regulation. I watched overtime at the Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club with Friends of Hoop. It was fitting to be amongst them as Lion Heart (an F.O.H. alum) hit the cold-blooded buzzer beater. In the history of Seattle lore, it’s right up there with Marshawn Lynch’s gangster gallop. After Lion Heart’s fall-away-rainbow found nylon, Rod the Sonics Historian texted me, “Legacy.”

It doesn’t get more concise than that.

Here is Lion Heart, as a little guy.

There were many lean years for UW basketball before Romar took over. I love his style of player and his style of play. That is why I don’t think he should kowtow to Georgia. Don’t try to play their game. Romar should roll into Charlotte with the same starting 5 (four point forwards and Lion Heart). Keep N’Diaye in his role, as first off the bench, sucking up space in the paint. If you’re hell-bent on playing Overton, be cautious and use a short leash. Don’t get too cavalier tinkering with what worked. I understand it’s about matchups, but this starting group has earned the right to play. I know what Coach is thinking. Georgia is a team that plays football on the hardwood. This is why Romar recruited N’Diaye. After last year’s Sweet 16, Romar saw (along with the rest of us) why you can’t bring ballerinas to a bar brawl. Throw all the artillery at Georgia, but don’t throw this burgeoning starting alliance in the river. For three straight games in the conference tourney the Huskies played within themselves. It’s sacred to play your best ball the day before Selection Sunday. Don’t mess with that. It reminds me of the 2009 NBA Finals. Jameer Nelson was injured for the playoffs. Orlando had a winning chemistry without him. Stan Van Gundy went back to a healthy Nelson for the championship round. Orlando lost their fragile chemistry, and the series — to the Lakers in 5 games.

All I am trying to say is I am really f**king excited for Friday.

I hope their jumpers are wet.

Interlude: When The Glove didn’t know who Klay Thompson was

Last Thursday on his radio show, Calabro asked The Glove what he thought about Klay Thompson’s future in the pros. The Glove didn’t know who Thompson was, or didn’t hear Calabro’s question. The Glove said the kid is too little and must get stronger. Thompson is tall, strong and quick. That night The Glove watched Thompson drop 43 (a conference tournament record) on UW at Staples Center. Saturday this was in Percy Allen’s Huskies blog, “Just spent 10 minutes being chewed out by Gary Payton. I took the position that WSU’s Klay Thompson should come back to college. Payton took the opposing view. He thinks Thompson will be taken in the top 10 of the draft.” I agree with The Glove (in theory). Thompson should be a lottery pick (based on his basketball skills). But he is off the national radar. Similar to Stephen Curry, Thompson would need a dynamo performance during March Madness to capture the attention of the eastern beachheads. Personally I hope he stays and gets the chance to play in the NCAA’s.